iOS 26 has introduced its second developer beta, bringing a host of interface upgrades and new features compared to Beta 1. These alterations enhance visual appeal, improve usability, and expand functionalities in areas such as the Control Centre, Apple Music, Safari, and notifications.
Highlights
Control Centre Upgrades
The Control Centre now showcases a deepened and darkened blur effect behind widgets, enhancing legibility. This fresh appearance delivers a more streamlined experience when users engage with toggles and controls across various backgrounds.
New Ringtones and Notifications
A new ringtone named ‘Alt 1’ can now be found in the Reflections category. This addition, previously hidden in system code, is now accessible in the Settings app, although it appears that implementation is still in progress.
Furthermore, notifications from unknown senders feature a new blue badge in place of the traditional red. This change creates a clearer distinction among various alerts, particularly for messages and unidentified contacts.
Apple Music Enhancements
Music enthusiasts will be pleased to find two new widgets in the Apple Music section. A Live Radio widget is now available, facilitating easier access through CarPlay. Additionally, a new shortcut widget allows users to launch Search directly from the Lock Screen, making it quicker to find tracks and artists.
Wallpaper and Dock Adjustments
The iconic iPhone wallpaper collection has made a return, tailored specifically for each iPhone model. In Beta 1, only previously saved wallpapers were viewable, whereas deleted system wallpapers were inaccessible. Beta 2 restores the full gallery and introduces a parallax effect that was absent earlier.
Adjustments have also been made to icon alignment within the Dock. When fewer than four apps are docked, icons now display left-aligned instead of centred. The nature of this change—deliberate or accidental—remains unclear in this build.
In Safari, the More Menu has undergone restructuring, featuring a new set of icons and reordered items to enhance user navigation. Despite these cosmetic updates, the underlying functionality remains unchanged.
Accessibility Improvements
A noteworthy but subtle update is the addition of High Contrast Mode, which now includes borders around Liquid Glass UI elements, making interactive areas more distinct and accessible.
As always, beta software may evolve, and certain features may be altered or excluded from the final release. Apple is anticipated to provide additional updates as the public launch of iOS 26 approaches later this year.
